Effect of Plugging the Registration Pin Tract in Robotic-assisted Knee Surgery

Introduction: Complications of robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) seem to be rare and consist mainly of infections or fractures. In the Reinier Haga Orthopedisch Centrum (RHOC), postoperative bleeding is experienced to be a complication that often occurs, mainly at the tibial wounds of the registration pins used in robotic-assisted TKA. This often results in longer hospital stay and might interfere with the current fast track knee surgery by a delayed discharge. To overcome this complication, nowadays bone plugs are used in the two drill-holes. Currently, it is unknown whether these bone plugs reduces the incidence of postoperative bleeding.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of postoperative bleeding in patients that underwent a robotic-assisted TKA and received bone plugs in the two drill-holes in the tibia, compared to patients that underwent the same operation but did not receive bone plugs.

Study design: Retrospective, inventory study

Study population: All patients that underwent a robotic-assisted TKA in the RHOC from December 2020 till October 2022.

Intervention: In the past, some patients that underwent a robotic-assisted TKA received a bone plug in the two tibial drill-holes. This bone is collected from the excess bone that is removed during the operation.

Main study parameters/endpoints: Incidence of postoperative bleeding in both groups.